Self-feeding apparatus



F. R. MAGUIRE.

SELF FEEDING APPARATUS.

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Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

ai ff F. R. MAGU'IRE.

SELF FEEDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man JULY 28.1919.

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F. R. MAGURE.

SELF FEEDING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED. luLY 28.1919.

Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

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rjoRREsT n. Meanies. Marennes-rr; enNNsYLvAN'rA, assreNoa crow. do,jnavrsjo'nY Enemies ff To all whom it may concern; f

MLemlvrnn, s; A. ncnnnsouzei enamoran, Nn w. L. KINsEY, orl.1=IrrfrsBUnefrI, I

PENNSYLVANIA. A Y Y u l SELF- Eenzame erPnRArUs. Y

1,333,209, i l Specietieri of Letters Patent.- PatentedfMaLi), Y1,7920.V l:

Be it known thatI, Fonnns'r `a citizen Yofthe United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and 4; Application ered muy 28,fieieseriai 'Ne'..aiavea Y I. Y ,i ted'cvto Vbeiclampedtoatableforiishelfl RsMAonnin, l

clamps-3 ofany vsuitable.-construction, but* preferably utilizing Vone'or inorevertically 1mi/er-v end withffal'fdonble arnterminal a9' farrangcd stems @l pivoted at 5 to aV bracket.;A

5 State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain .depending 'from the main base'and having 60 x new and useful Improvements in Sel'lFeeda vertically adjustablearin 6 held at suitf- .ing Apparatus, ot' which the following,` is a able position on Astem a and provided with a specification Y l Y i y securing set screw@ atits terminal, whereby Y lMy invention consists vo'tfa'n improvement the basel 2 may be clamped to lthe table A 10 in apparatus for feeding ones self by means ofV any p variable thickness. Byyrr'neans Vofr65 of a spoon or fork orvother simil-ar deviceor suchv clamps4 we are enabled; to adapt the' utensil adapted to remove portions of food "mounting-ofthe device' without adhering to .l from 'a holding` dish or plate, byy means -olpl lany particular dimensions orsize ofthe sup f actuating mechanism -operatedby thefiioot l porting table.V i p Y y 1.5 orleg. of' the! user. lt'has in viewtopro-V Slidably mounted upon 'the upper surface *7o* vide such a device capable-of use by? a perof base 2 is a disho'r vessel supporting plate f son having lost both his arms, or their use, 7, the front and rear .edges ofl which ride' Y and to enable him to transfer food fronra along the inner faces of guidingstrips 8, 8,' vessel, which is itself preferably adjustable, extending'upwardly'from the base',`orpref- ,t

2o Vto a position wherel it may be easily taken Ve'rablyl froiniacovering platerthereofjfor 75' into the mouth.V l Y f' veasy lmovement. Snpportingplate 7 pro- The present invention `is an improvei'nent vided atgits' corners with upwardlyxextend# on "the particular type of ,machinel disclosed -wingpost's Q'be'tween'whichextendconnecting in the prior application of Forrest RAB/la "supportingrodsl0,upon which rest the rea-r .A A

25 guire, Serial No. 800,190,filed May 27, 12919.' portionsof a series of dishes Vor holding ives- 80v Y l Preferred embodiments of the invention' sels B, CyD.. Said vessels, whichinay .be

` are shown in theaccompanyng. drawings,- of'any Suitableshape or construction, are in whichz, A v l shown asrectangular andcapable'oiibeing- Figure 1 is 'a View of the/apparat@[i315 Set eitherlevelforftilted atak slight inclina- 3`o frontelevation;l'-v Y Y Y `tion',fas in FigsQ', land 5, Afor which Vifriou'rlt- Fig. 2 is va side elevation partlyjbrokenk ing therearcrossprod lOfinay'beshapedacf Y away; cordingly. -Whenftilted, the-vessel maybe Fig. 3 is a plan view o the apparatus; Vused to containiiuid, `as soup-for anyother Fig.. l is enlarged view in side -ele;va-- similarniaterial, and whenflat may .be used f 35 tion,` partly brolrenaway, showing the teed-U with food of a more solid character.V "VVith 90 Y ing` mechanism as used `with a spoonyin-F eitherconstruction, the,shaperofthe-vessels 2, in the operation of rising; Y adaptthenr to thelforwardy sweeping. action Fg. 5 is a similar view showing thespoon of a spoon intheV inannerillustrated in'Figs. descending into the holding vessel; f lj inclusive, :and S'mOlG'flllly*hereinafter 4o v .Fig- 6 isa view similar to Fig. @showingv described." Y, Y 9,,

the vdevice and its controllingcani asntilized For the purpose'o'f ni' nipulating plate V7 l A with a vertically descending; vfork; and'qits supportingvesselslto; the rightgorto i Fig'. 7 is al similar view showing'fthe fork" the left of thevnser so"as}to bring each parf I towardthe termination ofthefrisingmovef ticular vessel or Vany fportion of-fit within p' 45jment, in position to deliver tothe usergy, if 'r ral'gegof thefeedingutensil, platef7 ispro- 100l Fig.V 8 is a view siinilarto Fig. /bntshowf vided 'withfalprojecting.stud11g-extending f ing the device pro-vided with asgoo'n attach--jfro1n one of the cornerr-psts vor otherwise ment and arranged ltor verticalmovement jf suitablyvattached;havingAslotted engageV only in connection with a Ytilted vessel; Y mentgw-iththe end of a lever'lgZ. Said 'lever Q 5e Fig. 9`is a 'vertical sectional viewfaftxrightl 12is'pivoted at 13ato a bracket 14 depending 105 angles to Fig;l S showing' the spoon partly fronibase 12 andisoperated to-'the right orA i raised; and f 1 l leftJby'rconnectingrod15pivoted at 16 to a Fig. l0 is a detail'viewfshowing rolling Vknee operated lever 17.-- Said leven-17 .is bearings'for the Vvesselsupporting plate.l pivoted at 18 togbase,Qandiszprovidedat.its

ing plete. By this A1meent, each particular vessel ore-ny portion ot' it may be readilyV brought into range of the toocl holding nten sil, as vlllvhe readily understood. v

Ait one eide et the normal,linidfdle-lpoel-V 1 tion ot the device, ztn uprightplete 22 eX? inent .in the :toi-.rn shown, is e' vertically i.j

V nioveblehernor stripg'inounted'in'one or 't tendeupwardly trein base 2 to Whichfit'is rigidly.secured, which plate constitutes theV mounting;- tor-e guiding ineens tor the-prinoipalectueting' @lenient` thei'eo-if.' Seid lele.-V

. moreV guiding hearings fl. und 'extends downwardly euiiiciently tf;

which` is pivot-ed nttiolled. fis toits niovenient eo l heegfv'elrdljt" or? i' below the liaise 2te provide 'tor imple Hinge olinoveinent and cennection Vn-'t'h the netimting cord or Wire Qi Said cord secured to the lower ,end cordp passes upwardly eud'veroune je guiding' shes-te 27 end is connected with theupper end ot the-shitting let'tr'QS. Seid lever ispilvoted et itslotifer endet 2.9 nien upwardly Vtending breolet/V of n'pednl` sulipoit 3l end is .providedlwith an extended; :trendle for engagement by the il?l peter,

preferably fpifofided indietted i in Fio Werdl-y providing terminal di, to the endo't' M 0:.) Saidlholder isfpreierublybent niet 37 to project the attaching teinnnel 35S-somewhat on tWerdly beyond the operating mechV to -ieztveit iiee from interference'theiewitln-V and ris adapted te beconnected withtheter` ininal Spoon by ich conne@tion1 he vietlly understood. f'lhe specific Pon strnetionfoi'*the'eonnection not eind nimy life ot the bayonet jeint gu ether suitable type, wheiiehj;V vte Ainsure et techfnentfori'eniovnl ol. the"utensil\"f i,

In iteV ordinary nteneil niejgf herz Without4 late f j 4 Y @river-diy;- depend'n the utensil need 1nd ftheykind el. veesel. Th `.in the :tepoon whenused for iti? deeinhleYtln` 'ni reni thrusting; uetienfon down intetheniouthhy*the neen For'such' i F or the pnipoee et' Vadjusting cani to ,operative or inoperative positioin l.

`the utensil holder 86.

'terminal 46, the earn aerwill Vcpinuit-ive; on inopernti l'the spoon Y oveinentgjfe {erw-@Lfd hllingis nnewyV mentgendfzt vertice-l upv-.reid 'movement to Y I' Y' Y i l v l l Y deliver'the'eontents ii-position to he taken Figs. t and For such purpose the oei the teiininalt oi links t1-i2- cepectivelgg" pifoted at to plate', WlnereloiT cani pla-te is mounted somewhat outwardly loe.- yond the tace thereof.

provide en Vdjuetnhle holding ebutnient 44; et generally triangular shape which is se cured en adjusting thumb terminal pinl etl'th'c otherside et theV plete. By thiel construe-V pl ete i by' its terminal at 4.5 tothe end ot .plate 21 is pivotelly connected et'lO, 40 with tion, abutment lll may loe-thrust znotmdv under link-4&1V so as to maintain cuni plate 2l outwardly in vertical inoperative post tion, as inFig's. 6 and 75er may be thrust heel: ini'Figd l une 5, So as to allow the nppei pivotal connection of thecztin plate to recede and ineke itefiective in manipulating the Spoon tontertieelupward :noveinent andontwnrdly swinging down inoxfeA nienty by cngaeeinent Withetud 205 'as indioet-ed in Fig. o. Thus, When cznn plete 2l is receded 'as shown in seid ignre, pin 20 will ridev upwardly against the rear edge oft' the cenn'plnte Cani plate -21 will f swing' loosel;7 with link il during upward movement oL pin 20, hnt Will fell hack` y Wurtlly to the position indicated in 'Fig'. 5 in tetnt'nl movement of leifeie 52o, in lowering-f 'the leztn bygrzwity Y p l "At ite 'upperenfh b21-i' 23'lief-turnedlha'ck zitter pin Q0 here traveled above the upper ternrnnal'v est the cem plete. Thereupon..

K-thevoninphtte -Willjtell heclqweortlljy' .with

link V4:1, are:Sent-ingV ite outer niehned Ved 'e Whichwill thereupon muse outward tilting' V-lllhen the device isntilized with n 'fork 7 :es indicated in Gnnd T, en Y Y that the intl; Shall he thi'uet L cui'd y toimrd the 'user atthe terminetion et ite upwardlinoveinent,for whieh pui.'-

erin o .provided with right angle bracket extension 'in adapted 'to come into los inteiifering engagement withi'tlie 'anni 49 oit 'en edjnstelole abutment niemloer 50 .pivoted tothe 'upright :it L, By edjueting such nlenfrihet,` itl me hetenderedoperatiim or inoperative Y edily understood, eo es to ett'eet VtheV desire ovenient.

`YVlini the i'oil: 417. is finilized in the an- ,neij just described; We' preferably piovide 'e eepeiete dish oi* utensil @mounted in the seine nimmer tev plete/7, or thereupon, and otjeonsi'dernble reletlvelength so es to he capable of being 'shifted laterally, :is de-` eired,V 'Within @entre ot the Ai'fetticsilly movable fork throughout its length. yBy this Vineens5 i:orti'ons oi vfood may be impaledhvvv the i tori; and lifted Within range of fthe Y pose the npperfportion of-ntensil heldinp; i

mouth of theV useras the holding vessel Eis gradually shifted.

For the purpose of providing for drinking, a cup or other suitable vessel 52` is mounted in a receiving ring 53 provided with a pivoting pin d extending into a receiving tliimble or ferrule 55. Pin ,54 is provided with a limiting abutment 5G allowing the cup to be swungforwardly tipping. Holding bracket 55 is vadjustably mounted for vertical setting in the upper Vso inventive subject matter.

edge portion of plate 22 by means and securiiigsct screw 57 engaging a slot 58..

as will be readily understood. f L

At any convenient position along the i'i'ont portion of base 2, it is provided withy a clip device59 for the purpose of vholding a piece of toast, bread, or the like, and within easy reach of the user.

ln order to reluce slidingfriction'of thiy vessel holdingplate T, it maybe mounted on rows of rolling bearings, as ballsGO between guide bar 8 and an inner bar 6l, as

clearly shown in Fig. l0.

Various other attachments may bemade in the way of conveniently. providingfor the holding of separate pieces or portions ofk food'in thesaine maiinerwitlioiit interfering with the ymain operative functions of the machine, and which are merely convenientY attachments or additions not involving The construction and operation ror the vapparatus will be readily understood and appreciated from the foregoing description.

It is suitably proportioned as to height andi its vario-us dimensions to accommodate itself to the user when seated in frontv of it. By

manipulating the lever arm l2 through the knee attachment, trie dish or vessel-supporting plateV may be moved to the right orto the left to enable all parte. of it, or of the several individual vessels, to 'be placed within roach 'ofthe' particular utensil being used.

' They main operative mechanism enables `the user to move the utensil, te.. spoon or fork,LV

at any desired speed, or to stop it at will, so that Vvaside.fronithe cutting of suoli food may be eaten by a fork, all that is necessary for an attendantto do to fill the dish or vessel with the prepared focdand the drinking c up with liquid, as coffee, tea, etc.

Thev device is entirely practicable in operation and of gri-iat conveniencel and useful "ness to thosewho are Acrippled in the manner indicated. lt enables `them to practi- *cally feed themselves, relieving` the user of a sense of helplessness, and avoiding the necefsity of an attendant to a great extent.

The invention may be changed or varier. in diierent details of construction by the skilled mechanic, but all such changes are to as desired the user, and limiting it against n backward of'a sind` signature.

be understood as within the scopeof the following claims.

What VI Yclaim is:

l. Self-feeding apparatus consisting of a food holdingutensil and a pivoted supporting arm therefor having a guiding projection, means'for raising and lowering the pivoted arm, avertically arranged controlling cam for said projection, and pivotally mounted supportstlierefor.

2.' Self-feeding apparatus consisting` vofa food holding utensil and a Vpivoted supportling arm therefor, having a guiding projec- 1 ing armtherefor havinga guidingprojection, means for raising and lowering the pivoted arm, a vertically arranged controlling cam -for said projection, pivotally mounted supports therefor, and an adjusting device adapted to engage one of said pivotal supports.

4l. TheV combination with a supporting plate and a vertically movable-pivoted utensil carrier provided with a controlling projection; ofacamplate and means pivotally connecting-it with the support.

A 5. The combination with a supporting .plate and a vertically movable pivoted utensilcarrier provided with a controllingproj ection; of a cam plate and means pivotally connecting it'with the support,-and an adjusting device for changing the position .of the controlling cam-on lthe support. l

6. In combination with a supporting plate and a pivotally mounted utensil arm having a controlling projection; a pair of i links pivoted to the supports, a controlling cam adapted to engage said projection, and an adjustable abutment for oneof said pivotal supports.

-7. In combination with a food holding utensil and means for actuating it, a later- -V Y 'ally movable food receiver, a pivoted op-V erating arinhaving a knee engaging fork,

and means flexibly connecting said. armwith the food receiver.

8. In combination witlia food holding utensiland ineansffor actuating it, a vlaterally movable foodv receiver, afpivoted operating ann-having a knee engaging fork,

means levibly connecting said arm with the food receiver, and guiding devices for said -liexible connecting means.

ln testimony wliereofl hereunto affix my ronnnsr n. Masuren."

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